Saturday, December 27, 2008

It's in the Details

How Now Brown Cow?

Here I am showing more close up details of this work in progress.

PHOTO ONE: details my use of Starbucks bags to create the pasture grasses, I love how when you rip this paper, the rough edge is brown, from the paper bag. That brown edge is so much more interesting combined with the green, I make extra tears just to show it off! Notice how the cow in the pasture is simple without much detail, I use only solid white and no type for her spots, I want to keep her in the background with simplicity.

PHOTO TWO: highlights the eye. Since every face I do is some version of a self portrait, I have given my cow blue eyes! I use many tiny bits of paper for a more expressive and realistic feeling here, I never make the iris from just one color or just one piece of paper, the movement of many little pieces gives more life.

PHOTO THREE: highlights the little illustrations I found in the French text book, especially the one of the horse which I incorporated just below the cow's chin. The French textbook pages are off white, almost yellow and I use them for white areas which would be in the shadow, rather than the highlight.

PHOTO FOUR: details the wonderful texture of the handmade paper I used for the nose, paper made by local artist and friend, Judy Segal. I tried to save some text that says "in his father's barn" for the bridge of the nose as a treat for anyone looking very closely!

Thank you for the details - I am going to try a paper painting today, I figure I better get something done before I go to your workshop in Feb! Anyway, I really enjoy your blog and love to see the things you're working on. Thanks.

Diana, if I can inspire you to want to make something that is wonderful! I spent a few hours at the Orlando Museum of Art today, that always makes me want to make something. I was thinking about unfinished edges when I left there and how I could incorporate that into my own work, not go all the way to the frame edge but rather leave a rough edge... I might try that next. I love being inspired. I am happy to inspire!